Matthew joins elite group

Matthew Colcombe produced a superb second round to come from nowhere and win the Halifax-Huddersfield Union’s stroke play title at Dewsbury on Sunday.

The Longley Park player following up a distinctly average first round 76 with a 68 to beat Meltham’s Josh McAspurn by one shot with Woodsome Hall’s Isaac Turner two further back.

Colcombe, one of four scratch players in a 33-strong field which also included plus two player Richard Broadley, was joining a select band of players to win the Union’s stroke play and match play titles.

They include PS Cockroft, whose name is on the trophy for Sunday’s event after winning the first three stagings in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

Other winners of both titles are John Crawshaw, Andrew Whitworth, Steve Martin, Cliff Hartland, Robert Kershaw and Brad Tupman.

The match play dates back to 1947 and Colcombe had previously won that in 2010 and 2013, emulating the success of his late father Mick in 1989.

Meltham’s Rob Dunleavy took the prize for the best first round with a 73 and Crow Nest Park’s Isaac Nicholl took the second round award with a 70.